The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-05-28
CURIOUS CEREMONIES.
Irhllalelrhla sAlunlay NLgh,. ]

The pepul-trees, in India, are sup posed to he the lAsarite nssorts far such departed spirits as, from various causes, have not yet been clothed with new bodies, The natives put lightel lamps in the carthern pots, which arc suspended from tho branches oi the trees, so that--as they express It. the souls of their relatives may be in light.
 From time immemorial. it has been their custom, when one of tho family dies, to suspend an carthern pot from a pepul-tre, and for ten successive days to bring offerings of water and rice, with u lighted lamp, for the bon eAt of the departed. On the tenth day the pet is broken. and feast Is made for the Rrahmlns.
 In Calcutta, ieasts of this character arc often given. A wealthy merchant once made one for the benefit of his de,easSt mother. The number of guests was estimated at two AHsdIyi MoW. sand, and the expense of the feast, ta- gcther with the presents made, was cs- timated at seventy five thousand dol lars.
 ceremonies for the rcpose of tho soul arc exceedingly numerous In this strange land, and the efficacy of the same In some instances for the benefit of deceassSi rclatives k supposed to de. pend very much upon the place wherc 1t Is performed.
 Here Is a very singular ceremony ; The son of a deceased person proeurps one male and four female calves. These are tied Co Ave posts near an altar, constructed for tho occasion. Four learned Biahmins sit on the four sides of the altar, and offer burnt sacrifice. X fifth Bnhmin rpads certain passages in the Shastcrs," to drive away evil spirits, The son washes the tail of the male calf, and with the same water presents drink offering to his de,cassSl ancestors. The male and the female calves are then gravely united in wed. lock. During the marriage ceremony, many formulas arc repeated, in which the parties arc recommended to eultl- vatc love and mutual sympathy.
 The Bahmins. having performed the duties of their sacred office, are dismissed with presents. including the four brides; but the hriaegroom k dedicated to Shiva-accor,ln to Hindu mythology. tho husband of Kali and allowed to run at large until old age carries him off
 These vnglHni calves may almost be I Ia orders of religious mcndicants. or holy beggars. As m provision Is mntlc for their daily wants, md ns they are under the necessity of securing their living, they become very cunning. and are scarcely less impudcnt than the biPesis constituting the other orders of that fraternity.
 It is moi uncommon for them to walk up unbiddcn to the stalls where vegetables are for sale, and help them selves. Being esteemed sacred. the poor, dcludcd inhabitants dare to use only the most gentle means of ridding themselves of their unproiitable GUS toners.
 During the first year or two, theae cattle fare rather scantily, but after having learned their sacred functions, they live well, and are the fnttest api best looking of all the animals to bc seen in IIindustan.
 The Shastcrs teach that the souls of the departed are divided into five classes. Those of the first class re- unite with BrBhm, ihc eternal spirit, and thus lose their Individuality. The second are admitted to the various heavens of the gods. The third are punished In places of torment. The fourth again become the offspring of human parents. The hfth becomc beasts, birds and insects. Hence, should Hindu inlinlc m insect with his breath, he knows not but. in m doing, he has swallowed some de- parted possibly his own father. There k one sect who, to pre- vent so horrih catastrophe, wcnr n strainer over the mouth